Parker-Hannifin Corporation PH reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2015 adjusted earnings of $1.43 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 22.7% (42 cents). Earnings declined 30.6% on a year-over-year basis.
The weak bottom-line performance was largely attributable to poor revenues recorded during the quarter. Moreover, Parker-Hannifin witnessed a surge in the effective tax rate which affected earnings during the quarter.
In fiscal 2015, the company’s adjusted earnings came in at $7.25 per share reflecting a 4.5% increase on a year-over-year basis.
Total revenue in the quarter fell 10.8% year over year to $3,144.5 million also lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,167 million. The decline in top-line growth was primarily a result of foreign currency-related headwinds, apart from weakness in key end-markets.
In fiscal 2015, revenues declined 3.8% year over year to $12.7 billion.
The company also reported a 9% dip in orders for the reported quarter.
Operating income for the quarter declined 13.9% year over year to $440.5 million.
Segmental Performance
Parker-Hannifin’s Industrial Sales segment comprises two sub-segments – Diversified Industrial and Aerospace.
Under the Diversified Industrial Segment, North American sales for fourth-quarter fiscal 2015 slipped 7.3% to $1,413.1 million. Also, the segment reported a 9% year-over-year decline in orders.
The International segment, which also falls under Diversified Industrial Segment, reported a 17.4% decrease in fourth-quarter sales to $1,142.2 million. On the other hand, orders for the segment fell 5% year over year.
Revenues in the Aerospace Systems segment recorded 4.6% decline year over year to $589.2 million, while orders declined 14%.
A strong decline in the orders affected revenues adversely across all segments.
Liquidity
As of Jun 30, 2015, Parker-Hannifin’s cash and cash equivalents were $1,108.6 million compared with $1,107.0 million at the end of third-quarter fiscal 2015. Long-term debt stood at $2,723.9.0 million at the end of the fourth-quarter fiscal 2015, compared with $2,724.9 million as of Mar 31, 2015.
Net cash from operating activities at the end of Jun 30, 2015 was $1301.9 million, up from $791.1 million at the end of Mar 31, 2015.
Fiscal 2016 Guidance
Management expects its fiscal 2016 adjusted earnings guidance to lie in the range of $6.65–$7.35 per share. The latest guidance considers business realignment expenses of approximately 50 cents per share, out of which 30 cents are attributable to the company’s business simplification initiative.
The company expects weak end-markets and strong currency headwinds to weigh on its financial performance for fiscal 2016. Also, restructuring initiatives aimed at pruning the business portfolio so as to improve efficiency may affect near-term results adversely going forward.
Our Take
Going forward, we believe Parker-Hannifin’s Win Strategy, which focuses on dividend increase and other growth actions to improve customer service through efficient business and cash management schemes, will help the company to tide over weaknesses in global macroeconomic conditions. This apart, the global restructuring initiatives that has benefited the company in the past and are expected to strengthen the competitive position of the company in the long-run.
Parker-Hannifin currently holds Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked companies in the industry include Atlas Copco AB ATLKY, Graco Inc. GGG and Nordson Corp. NDSN. All three stocks carry Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
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